Power lift device



March 18, 1947. YOUNG 2,417,579

POWER LIFT DEVICE Original F'iled Feb. 10,1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 \\\IIIIL.IIII

Patented Mar. 18, 1947 rowan LIFT DEVICE Austin Young, Syracuse, N. Y., assignor to Syracuse Chilled Plow 00., Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation'of New York Division of application Serial No. 378,122, February, 10, 1941;. Continuation of application Serial No.-:416 002, October 22, 1941. This application March 3, 1944, Serial No. 524,940

isolates.

This application is a continuation of my CD- pendin ap l cation. Serial No. 416,002, filed October 22, 1941, for Clutch mechanism, and a div sio of my co-pending appl cation, Serial No. 378,122, filed February 10, 1941, for Potato Di gers.

This invention relates generally to self-interrupting clutch mechanisms and more particularly to power actuated lifting clutch means for raising and lowering the operating part or parts of an agricultural implement or the like.

The object and general nature of the present invention is the provision of a self-interrupting clutch which includes planetary gearing and associated control means therefor.

An additional feature of the present invention is the provision of improved self-interrupting clutch mechanism in which two driven parts are connected through planetary gear units with a continuously rotatable driving part, and in which a suitable control is arranged normally to hold one of the driven parts against rotation but movable into a position to lock the other against rotation to drive the first mentioned driven part. In this connection, it is another feature of this invention to provide means for automatically restoring the control means to a position in which the operative driven part is locked in non-rotating position.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled inthe art after a consideration of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings: V

Figure 1 is a side viewof a self-interrupting clutch mechanism incorporating the present invention, the clutch being shown as connected to operate a generally longitudinally sliiftable connecting'rod with which may be associated any suitable part or parts to be actuated thereby;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2-4 of Figure l;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary side view, showing the trip or control lever in its operating position for causing the clutch to deliver power to the part or parts to be actuated thereby;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view showing the means for limiting the outward movement of the clutch control trip lever, and V Figure 5 is a fragmentary side view, similar to Figure 3, showing the trip lever in an intermediate position. H n H v I v Referring now to the drawings, the, self-lnteri rupting' clutch m'ehanismoi the'present invennumeral 98 and for purposes of illustrationj has" been shown as mounted on a supporting plate It! carried by a frame bar 6a, which members form a part of a potato digger frame 4. As explained in more detail in ,my co-pending application identified above, the potato digger includes power driven mechanism for driving the elevator, and in addition power is. delivered by such mechanism through a drive chain 96, to the clutch mechanis m fifi, the chain 95 being trained around a sprocket member 531 (Figure 2 which forms a part of or is connected to the driving member of the clutch. Thus, the sprocket 9] is continuously driven fromthe powermeans of the potato digger during all times that the outfit is in operation. H g

Referring no-w more particularly to Figuresl and 2, the supporting plate llll, which is mounted in any suitable manner on the inside frame bar liaof, the frame 4, receives a'bolt IBZby which a stationary bushing J63 is iirmly secured in place. The drive sprocket 91 is journaled for, rotation on the bushing m3 and is provided with a hub ltd in one end of which gear teeth I05 are formed. The huh I M thus forms'the driving gear of the clutch unit'98. A rotatable housing Midis mounted on the hub I64 and is provided with a central hub section I01 which at twodiametrically opposite points is slotted out, as at MB, to receive the larger gear section I99 of a compound planet gear, indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral 0. If desired, I may employ only one gear member Hi3, but two may be used, as shown in Figure Z. Each gear member H0 is mounted for rotation one. stud HI fixed to the rotatable housing I05 in any suitable manner, as by being threaded into the radial web portion thereof. A second rotatable housing H5 is provided witha hub llii and is rotatably journal'ed ori the stationary bushing 1931 The hub H6 is'received within the laterally outer end of the hub Nil, wherebyall of these parts are maintained in accurate concentric relation.

The rotatable housing H5 isfformed peripherally as an internal ring gear, indicated at H9, and is provided with teeth I20 which mesh with the other gear section IZIof cache)? the compound planet gears Hi). Thus, as best shown in Figure 2 the clutch mechanism 98 includes plane tary gearing, of which the hub lll lis the driving member and the two rotatable housings Hi6 and H5 are driyenlmernbers, the Iatter being driven bymeans'or theplarietary gears nu; As will be readily understood, either of the members I06 and I I5, if held against rotation, may serve as the reaction member by which the gears H will drive the other member. As described above, the hub I04 with the teeth I05 serves as the sun gear, the gears H0 serve as the planet gears of which the member I06 is the planet gear carrier, and the other rotatable housing I I5 serves as the ring gear.

As will be understood by reference to my aboveidentified parent application, the rotatable housing H5 is link-connected with the shovel unit or units of the potato digger for the purpose of raising and lowering them, but so far as the present invention is concerned the member H5 may be connected to any part or parts that it is desired to operate. In potato diggers, as well as in the majority of other agricultural implements, the power lift clutch is usually connected with some part to be raised, as into a transport position, and held in that position until it is desired to lower the same, but usually the clutch mechanism'is not required to hold the part or parts in a lowered position since they are usually constrained to occupy a lowered position either by gravity or by the action of the soil or other load acting against the part or parts. However, as will be referred to below, the self-interrupting clutch mechanism 98 may be constructed, if desired, so as to hold the load driven by the clutch mechanism in either of its positions, or, if desired, the load may be moved through a cycle that includes movement from one position to another and then from the latter position back to the first position. For controlling the clutch mechanism 98 I therefore provide suitable control means for locking one or the other of the members I06 and I I5 against rotation and releasing the other member to permit it to rotate, whereby a positive driving connection is established through the clutch mechanism, both during movement of the load in one direction and movement of the load in its other direction. Thus, when the clutch mechanism 98 is incorporated in a potato digger to control the shovel or shovels thereof, a driving connection is established through the clutch mechanism, both during the raising and lowering movements of the shovel or shovels, as described in detail in my co-pending parent application mentioned above.

The clutch controlling means is best shown in Figures 1, 3 and 4, and referring now to these figures it will be seen that the rotatable housing member I06 is provided with a radial flange I25 which is formed with a plurality of notches or scallops I21. As will also be seen from Figure 2, the radial flange I20 is offset axially so as to lie in a plane closely adjacent a flange I30 that is formed on the other rotatable housing member H5. The member H5 is provided on the flange I30 with a stop lug or cam I32 and an adjacent trip lug or cam I33. Cooperating with the notches I21 and the lugs I32 and I33 is a trip or control lever I36. The lever I36 is mounted for rocking movement on a stud I31 fixed in any suitable manner to the supporting plate IOI. It will be noted, particularly from Figure 1, that the lug or lugs I32 do not extend radially outwardly beyond the bottom of the notches I21.

The trip lever I36 is of particular construction. At one side of the axis defined by the journal portion I38 receiving the lug I31 the lever I36 carries a lug'I39 which lies in the plane of the flange I30 on the rotatable housing member H5, and at the other side of the axis of the lever I36 is a lug I40 that extends substantially the axial length of the journal section I38 and is in a position to engage any one of the notches I21 formed in the flange I26 of the rotatable housing member I06. A lug I4! is carried by the trip lever I35 and serves as a stop limiting the outward movement of the lever (Figures 3 and 4), as will be explained below. As best shown in Figure 5, the relation between the lugs I39 and 10 is such that only one may be engaged with the associated lugs I32 and notches I21 at any one time, for after the lug I39 has been moved to clear the lug I32 and then rides along the flange I33, the lug I40 on the lever I36 clears the notches I21, as best shown in Figure 5. A suitable spring I02 is anchored at one end, as at I63, to the supporting plate IM and at the other end is connected with the lever I36, biasing the same for movement into the position shown in Figure 1, in which the lug I39 engages the lug I32 on the member I I5, thereby holding the latter against rotation while the other lug I40 on the lever I30 clears the notches I21, thereby permitting the member I05 to rotate, it being remembered that the part I06 serves as the planet gear carrier for the planetary gearing of which the members I96 and H5 are parts.

The driven member H5 of the clutch mechanism $3 is connected to actuate the load to be controlled thereby through an actuating link I49, the member H5 carrying a crank pin M8 which receives the rear end of the link I49, and as best shown in my above-identified parent application, the forward end of the link I40 is connected through. suitable means to the raising and lowering mechanism for the potato digger shovel or shovels. Briefly, the connections are such that the rearward movement of the link M9, that is, to the left as shown in Figure 1, will raise the shovel or shovels and forward movement of the link M9 will lower the shovel or shovels, provided they are permitted to lower by depth adjusting means which forms a part of the potato digger. So far as the present invention is concerned, it may be considered that generally horizontal movement of the link I69 moves the load or other parts to be actuated from one position to another. In the construction shown in Figure 1, it will be noted that there is only one pair of lugs 532, I33, and in this case the clutch mechanism 93 is thus adapted to raise a load, such as the shovel of a potato digger, into a position in which a load constantly exerts a. tendency to move back to its other position, which is prevented by the engagement of the lever I36 with the lug E32 as shown in Figure 1, but in the other position of the load it exerts no tendency to move out of that position, at least in the other direction, being held in that position by gravity or some other means. However, the clutch mechanism 98 may be provided with two sets of lugs 632, 533- so that the load may be positive y held in any position. For example, Figure 3 shows the crank pin H38 moved through substantially degrees and with the member H5 provided with another set of lugs I32, I33 which occupy substantially the same position, relative to the control lever I36, that the lugs !32, I33 shown in Figure 1 occupy.

lihe operation of the clutch mechanism and its control is substantially as follows.

Assuming that the clutch actuated link I 39 is connected to a load which is adapted to be raised and lowered, such as the shovel or other tool of an agricultural implement, the normal transport or raised position of the parts is shown in Figure 1, the weight or. tendency of the load, acting through the link I49, to return to its lowered? positiont'ending-t'o rotate the member I I5 in a clockwisedi-rection, as viewed in Figure 1, but this movement is restrained by the engagement of the lug I32 with the lug I39 on the control lever I35;

It will be noted that to securethis action, tlieparts are so arranged that the crank pin I idiis' slightlyabove the axis of the supporting b'o-lt i which defines the axis of rotation of the driven clutch member II5. The spring I 42 serves to hold the control lever I35 in the lever Ififi -is in a position clearing the notches Therefore, since. the driving sprocket 91 In; andassociated'sun gear H35 are rotated continuously, this rotation is transmitted by the planet gears Iifl'to the'planet gear carrier member m5, acting against the locked member II5 which is stationary. The sprocket gear 9'! is normally driven in the directionof the arrow a shown in Figure 1, and when the? member H5 is locked against rotation; the notched member Hit is driven idly 'inthesame direction.

When itis desired to lower the load by permitting the link lwtomove to theright (Figure 1) into the position shown inFigure 3, or actually to force thelink its to move from the position of Figure 1 to the position of .Figure 3, the. operator pulls on the cable I65, thereby swinging the control lever I36 to the position shown in Figure 3, in which the lug I39 is moved away from the lug I32 on the member M5 towhich the lifting link i i-iris connected, at'thesametime moving the lu I 60' into engagement with. one of the notches I21 and thereby looking the latter against rotation in either direction. It will be noted that both of the lugs I39 and W3 are rounded, and the relationof the-parts issuch that by the time lug Itoengages in one. ofthe notches. I21 far enough to prevent the member me fromrotating, the other lug l39 is in a position permitting the lug I-32to pass the lug I59. Thus, as soon as'the lug I lt locks themember I96 against rotation, the drive is then tran-smitted through the planetary gearing to the member H5, this member rotating in a clockwise direction, as in dicated by the arrowb in the lower'portion of Figure l. The weight'of theload, in the event that load drivenfiby the clutch mechanism 38 is one that is raised, as for examplethe digger shovels of a potato digger, may also tend to turn the member IIE in the direction of arrow b, but if the operator retains his hold on the rope I55, holding the lug I min engagement with the member I66, theloadconnected With thelink I49 will beperrnittedi to move no faster than the. member I I5 is driven; However; if desired, the.

operator may release the cablel65 a moment after the trip lever I36 hasr been operated toirelease the lug I32 in the raised position of the parts (Figure l), inwhich case the. load may then. move downwardly under the action of gravity and the lug. I 39will merely ride along the flange I38 with the .lug- I Ifl..just'clearing-.the. notches I21, asbest shown inFigure 5. Afterthe: load reaches its lowered: position, the. member I iiiiimerely idles and the member I I5 remains stationary. As. mentioned above, where the load' or otherpart or parts to be actuated by the clutch 98 is of the type thattends to remain in a lowered position, there is no need .for the :second set of I or other part or parts actuated by the clutch 98 must-be held positively in a lowered or second position, then the lugsl32, I33 shownin Figure 3 should be provided. From Figure 3 it can beseen that when the operator releases the cable I65 and permits the control lever I36 to move back into the position indicated in Figure 1, the'lug itswill engage the lug'l-tz (Figure 3) and prevent any tendency for the link I 49 to move to the left (Figure 3) from driving the clutch member II5.

When subsequently it is desired to move the link I49 from the position shown inFigure 3 back to the positionshown in Figure 1} all the operator hasto do is'to pullthecable I55, which again moves the control lever I35 into the position shown in Figure 3 which moves the lug I40 into one of the notches I21 and locks'the member I08 against rotation, whereupon the member I I5 will be. driven in a clockwise direction (Figure 3), which moves the link M9 to theleft, thus moving the load connected-with the link M9 in a corresponding direction. The reaction of the load is transmitted by the planetary gearing to the member Iilii, tending tocause the same to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction. However, this is resisted by the engagement of the lug" M0 in one of the notches I27. The'o'perator may therefore release his hold'on the cable IE5, the reaction exerted through the member I05 thus holding the lever E36 in the position shown in Figure 3. In this position, the lug MI bears against the shoulder t lt-(Figure 2) on the member I06, thus limiting the clockwise movement of the trip lever I335 under the counterclockwise reaction of the member Hit. The continued rotation of the sprocket 9'! therefore continues the clockwise rotation until the lug I33 comes into engagement with the lug I ili. At this point the continued rotation of the member H5 therefore acts positively to swing the trip lever I 36 in a counter clockwise direction, moving the lug MI out of engagement with the member I06 and swinging the lug I39 into a position to reengage the lug E32, thus positively swinging the trip lever I35 from the position shown in Figure 3 back to the position shown in Figure 1. The parts are so arranged, that by'the time this occurs the'pivot' I iii passes to a point above the axis of rotation of the member H5; defined by the pivot bolt IilZ, sothat the tendency of the load to rotate the member H5 in a clockwise direction (Figure 1) holds the lug 32 against the lug I35 on the trip lever I35; thereby locking the rotatable member IIfi-in the position shown in Figure 1.

Although the clutch mechanism just described finds its greatest usefulness in potato diggers and other agricultural implements, the clutch mechanism of the. present invention obviously may have other uses; For example, if the load issuch asto tend to rotate the dr ven member 5' continuously, or at least through a full revolution, rather than only through approximately a half revolution as in the instant construction, and where the driven member H5 carries only one set of lugs I32. I33, the clutch will automatically disengage after a complete revolution. If it should be desired to provide a self-interruptingiclutch wh ch pos tively disengages, say, every 13o degrees, then two sets of lugs I32, I33 would.

beprov ded at points diametrically o posite the lugs I32, I33 shown in Figure 1. It is to be noted that the lugs I32, I33 in Figure 3 as shown hflxa'pOSlfilOl'l cirth member II5I diametrically opposite the position of the lugs I32, I33 of Figure 1. As will be apparent, more than two sets of lugs may be employed and they may be spaced about the periphery of the driven member H5 at any desired spacing so as to secure the desired angular rotation before interruption. It is an important feature of a clutch of the type described that the reaction of the transmission of the driving force is utilized for holding the spring biased trip lever in a position engaging the member "it until the trip lever I35 is actually forced back into a position holding the driven member against further rotation.

It will e understood that while I have shown the self-interrupting planetary clutch mechanism as incorporated in a two-row potato digger, such mechanism may be employed in other implements, especially those in which it is desired that both the raising and lowering movements be controlled by the power connections. It will also be seen that the driven member H5 may have one, two or more pairs of controll ng lugs 53?; and E33 depending upon the extent of revolution it is desired that the member i i5 shall make before its movement is automatically interrupted. Thus, while I have shown and described above the preferred structure in which the principles of the present invention have been incorporated, it is to be understood that my invention is not to be limited to the particu ar details shown and described above, but that, in fact, widely different means may be employed in the practice of the broader aspects of my invention.

What I claim, therefore, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A self-interrupting clutch mechanism for agricultural implements or the l ke, comprising three rotatable coaxially disposed members, means for driving one of said members, planetary gearing means reacting against either of the other two members for transmitting power to the other of said two members, and a part having sections engageable with said two memers and movable from one position, in which one of said sections holds one of said two members against rotation and the other of said sections releases the other of said two members for rotation, to a second position in which the other section holds said other of said two members against rotation and said one section releases said one of said two members for rotation, one of said members being provided with means engageable with said part for moving it into one of said positions.

2. A self-interrupting clutch mechanism for agricultural implements or the like, comprising a pair of rotatable notched members, driving means therefor including gearing whereby either of said members is rotated when the other is held against rotation, a lever pivotally mounted adjacent said members and having means at opposits sides of the pivot axis of the lever engageable, respectively, with the notches of said members, spring means biasing said lever for movement to a position in which one of said members is held against rotation while the other is permitted to rotate, means for moving said lever into its other position releasing said one member and locking the other member against rotation, and a lug on said one member operable to force said lever back into said one position after a predetermined extent of rotation has taken place.

3. A self-interrupting clutch mechanism for agricultural implements or the like, comprising Lil 8 three rotatable coaxially disposed members, means for driving one of said members, planetary gearing means reacting against either of the other two members for transmitting power to the other of said two members, means engageable with said two members and movable from one position, in which said means holds one of said two members against rotation and releases the other of said two members for rotation, to a second position in which said means holds said other of said two members against rotation and releases said one of said two members for rotation, and means on one of said two members for controlling the position of said movable 'means.

4. A self-interrupting clutch mechanism comprising three rotatable coaxially disposed members, means for driving one of said members, planetary gearing means reacting against either of the other two members for transmitting power to the other of said two members, means movable between two positions and engageable with said two members, said means being movable from one position, in which said means engages and holds one of said two members against rotation and releases the other of said two members for rotation, to a second position in which said means engages and holds said other of said two members against rotation and releases said one of said two members for rotation, and means responsive to the rotation of one of said two members through a predetermined extent for controliing the position of said movable means.

5. A self-interrupting clutch mechanism for agricultural implements or the like, comprising a pair of rotatable notched members, driving means therefor including gearing whereby either of said members is rotated when the other is held against rotation, a lever pivotally mounted adjacent said members and having means at opposite sides of the pivot axis of the lever engageable, respectively, with the notches of said members, means for moving said lever into one position about said pivot axis to engage one of said notched members and release the other,

member for rotation, and means on said rotatable member for moving said lever back into engagement with said one member.

6. In clutch mechanism, a pair of members, connections associated with said members whereby when one of said members is held against rotation the other member is driven, each of said members having means serving as lugs, a lever mounted for movement into engagement with the lugs on said other member to lock it against rotation and adapted to be engaged with the lugs on said one member so as to hold it against rotation and cause the other member to be driven, and means on said other member for causing said lever to be moved out of engagement with said one member after it has been moved into engagement with said one member to cause rotation of said other member.

7. Clutch mechanism of the self-interrupting type, comprising three relatively rotatable members, planet gear means carried on one of said members and geared to the other two members, one of said members constituting a driving member and the other of said members constituting driven members, one of said driven members being notched'and the other of said driven members having a locking lug, a lever mounted for movement into engagement with said lug for locking said other member against rotation, biasing means normally holding said lever in a first position engaging said lug, a lug on said lever adapted to engage the notched portion of said one driven member so as to lock it against rotation when said lever is moved into a second posi tion releasing the lug on said other driven member, whereby power may be delivered to the latter to rotate the same, and a restoring lug on said other driven member adapted during rotation to engage said lever and automatically move it back into said first position and interrupt the delivery of power to said other driven member.

8. In clutch mechanism, a pair of rotable members, connections associated with said members whereby when one of said members is held against rotation the other member is driven, a lever mounted for movement into engagement with said other member to lock it against rotation and cause said one member to be driven and adapted to be engaged with said one member so as to hold it against rotation and cause the other member to be driven, and means on said other member for causing said lever to be moved out of engagement with said one member, after it has been moved into engagement with said one member to cause rotation of said other member.

9. The invention set forth in claim 8, further characterized by said means including a lug on said other member engageable with said lever when the latter is in a position holding said one member against rotation.

10. A power lift device comprising a driver member, a pair of cooperating rotatable members adapted to be driven from said driver member, one of said cooperating rotatable members having at least one engaging portion and the other havinga plurality of engaging portions, a gear secured to the driver member, one of said cooperating rotatable members having a hub portion on which the other is journaled, and one of said cooperating rotatable members having a ring gear and the other mounted rotatably on the driver member and carrying a plurality of planetary pinions meshing with the ring gear, one of said cooperating rotatable members constituting a driven member, control means normally engageable with one of the engageable portions of said driven member for holding it from rotating and upon disengagement therefrom engageable with one of the engaging portions of the other of said cooperating rotatable members for causing said driven member to be driven from the rotation of the driver memher, and a crank carried by said driven member and disposed laterally outside the other cooperating rotatable member, with the latter being disposed between said crank and the driver member, whereby said crank may be rotated progressively in one direction and means responsive to a given rotation of said driven member for releasing the other cooperating rotatable member and locking said driven member against rotation.

11. A power lift device for agricultural implements and the like, comprising a driver having an axially extending section and a sun gear thereon, a support on which said driver is journaled, said support having a portion disposed laterally outwardly of said driver, a planet gear carrier member mounted on said section and having journal portions disposed, respectively, laterally inwardly and outwardly of said sun gear, a ring gear member mounted for rotation on the laterally outer portion of said support anddisposed in the laterally outer portion of said planet gear carrier member, one or more planet gears carried by said planet gear member and meshing with said sun and ring gears, control means for locking one of said members against rotation, a crank mounted on and driven by the other of said members, and a link mounted on said crank and movable thereby in a plane disposed outwardly of the outer end of said support whereby when the driven member is progressively rotated said link clears said support.

12. A power lift comprising a driver member, means for supporting said driver member for rotation, a pair of cooperating rotatable members adapted to be driven from said driver member, a gear secured to the driver member, one of said cooperating rotating members having a hub portion on which the other of said rotatable members is journaled and one of said cooperating rotatable members having a ring gear and the other of said rotatable members being mounted rotatably on the driver member and supported thereby and carrying a plurality of planet gears meshing with the ring gear, one of said cooperating rotatable members constituting a driven member and having a crank part extending laterally outwardly of i said supporting means, control means normally engageable with one or the other of said rotatable members, and a link connected with the crank portion that is disposed lateraily outwardly of said supporting means, whereby said link may be shifted in alternate directions by a progressive rotation in one direction of said driven member.

AUSTIN E. YOUNG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

